One Day in Wine Country, Part 2: Girls, Gays, & Theys
Watkins Glen is known mostly for one thing: NASCAR.
But, trust us when we tell you: Watkins is so much more than that.
It’s home to a beautiful state park that includes a gorge, five waterfalls, a picturesque walking bridge, and rich botany. It’s also a charming, walk-able small town that you could certainly make your home while exploring the southern end of Seneca Lake! So read on for part 2 of our One Day in Wine Country series!
Follow Your Arrow
Fresh bagels at the Blackberry Inn Kitchen.
…to Seneca Sunrise! This tiny coffee shop is in a renovated garage and owned by a community-minded local couple. They roast the beans right there in the back. One of their blends, “FLX Pride,” was developed during Pride Month years ago. In fact, every June they donate a portion of the proceeds from that blends’ sales to a local Pride organization. You’ll see their beans sold in quite a few local establishments, including…
The Blackberry Inn Kitchen on Franklin Street! Which is where you need to go next for big breakfast sandwiches, flaky pastries, and bagels made daily in-house. The guys at the BIK mix up their own cream cheese blends and are happy to customize your sandwich however you’d like. Make sure to grab a danish or some pre-packaged snacks to go because next up: the Watkins Glen State Park!
I Know A Place
The Watkins Glen State Park first opened to the public in the 1860s but wasn’t declared a state park until 1906. It features a truly awesome gorge, five waterfalls, a wooden pedestrian bridge, rich botany, and more. Taking the full hike can be time consuming but we promise that it’s worth it! Tip: if you’re traveling with your pup, you will have to stick to the rim trails, which are beautiful but don’t include as many stunning views of rock formations, waterfalls, etc.
Wine and food at the Silver Thread Winegarden in Lodi, NY.
Lunch
After your hike, you and your besties will be ready for wine and snacks. This is where we come in!
The Silver Thread Winegarden is a spacious, relaxing tasting room with an Austrian-inspired menu made from locally-sourced ingredients. The Winegarden is elegant yet approachable, with a wall facing Seneca Lake that’s made entirely of windows. It’s truly one of the best views of the lake! The Winegarden is open all year, though the menu varies based on the month. Mid-May through October, the patio is covered and you can enjoy creamy spreads, local cheeses, cold salads, and sausages alongside prix fixe wine flights or wine by the glass/bottle. Walk-ins are welcome! Visiting in a group of more than six? Please request a reservation in advance.
Silver Thread co-owner Shannon, hand hoeing of weeds in vineyard.
We pride ourselves on producing premium wines made with grapes from our certified sustainable vineyard. Silver Thread Vineyard is a regenerative farm with free-range chickens, strategically planted cover crops, and a focus on minimal intervention winemaking. What does this mean? It means we care. Deeply. We care about the wine we’re making, the way we’re making it, and the impact we have on the planet. Our winery has been 100% solar-powered since 2015. We spread compost along the trunks of the vines. We keep tractor traffic to a minimum between rows so the soil doesn’t get impacted. We hand-pick the grapes every fall. It’s a lot of work but we truly believe that it makes outstanding wine!
When you’re ready to move on from Silver Thread (though you’re welcome to stick around for a second glass or guided tasting at the bar), we’re happy to make suggestions for your next stop. Maybe more wine? How about a beer? Or perhaps a cocktail?
Finger Lakes Distilling in Burdett, NY.
Raise Your Glass
As you head south back towards Watkins Glen, you’ll get to a spot that offers you two-in-one: Damiani Wine Cellars and Finger Lakes Distilling. These businesses are neighbors, so it’s easy to park at one but check out both. Damiani is another certified sustainable vineyard, known for their dry red and semi-dry sparkling wines. Finger Lakes Distilling is a staple on this side of Seneca! They use locally-grown fruits and grains to make hand-crafted spirits. They host a great party too!
Another great spot for a pre-dinner drink? J.R. Dill Wine Bar in Watkins Glen. Their Deep Lake Cosmo is *chef’s kiss*. And when you’re ready for dinner, just pop across Franklin Street to Graft Wine + Cider Bar for a Dominican-inspired menu featuring ingredients from local producers. Bonus points for Orlando’s fully Finger Lakes wine list!
Sunset from the Winegarden patio.
Good Luck, Babe
Traveling can be stressful, and the Finger Lakes – Wine Enthusiast’s American Wine Region of the Year – is a vast area that encompasses 11 glacially-formed lakes, 9,000 square miles, and 10,500 acres of vineyard. Navigating the region for the first time can seem an impossible task. You might spend more time in the car than you expect, and you might turn down a dirt road and get a little lost. It’s ok though! Wireless service is pretty reliable around here these days, and as long as you can see the lake, you’ll be able to get back on track.
I always suggest to visitors that they pick a lake, then a section of the lake, and go from there. I live and work here on the southeast side of Seneca so it’s what I know best. And it’s the lake I love the most! I just know you’ll love it too!
